February Winning Post

1st Feb: Greg Bettiol’s 4YO Art Major - Princess Cassi gelding Major Assassin made a one act affair of the Tasco Mildura Pacing Cup 13 April 2019 Pace for C1 class over 1790 metres at Mildura. Trained at Great Western by Grant Campbell and driven by Kerryn Manning, Major Assassin led throughout from the pole, winning as he pleased by 14.4 metres from Our Little Actress which trailed, with American Tour third 5.2 metres away after racing uncovered for the trip. The mile rate 1-59.3.

1st Feb: 5YO Rocknroll Heaven - Hectic mare She Envy raced by Peter Judd’s Benstud Standardbreds was successful in the Central Tyre Service Pace for C3 & C4 class over 1690 metres at Shepparton. Trained by David Aiken at nearby Avenel, She Envy driven by Kima Frenning starting from gate three ran home best from three back in the moving line to register a two metre margin over the leader Vandanta and Sofala in a mile rate of 1-54.7.

2nd Feb: John Dorrington’s prolific winning home bred Courage Under Fire - Pareen 8YO gelding Smokey Quartz chalked up his 23rd success at start number 105 by taking the 1609 metre Brittany Cordina Pace at Tabcorp Park Menangle. Dropping back in grade from virtual FFA class, Smokey Quartz (KerryAnn Turner / Robbie Morris) led throughout from gate two, recording a three metre margin from Expressionist and Mister Brazil in a slashing mile rate of 1-52.6.

4th Feb: Muscle Hill - Full On Luck colt All The Muscles raced by Kevin Riseley’s Sheron Park Pty. Ltd was an impressive victor of the TAB Multiplier 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2240 metres at Tabcorp Park Melton. Trained at Arcadia in the Goulburn Valley by Patrick Ryan, All The Muscles driven by Greg Sugars was sent forward to race exposed outside the last start winner Scruffy Doolan, running straight past him approaching the final bend to gain the day by four metres from Georgias Pride which ran on nicely after being held up behind the weakening leader. Donttouch The Duco was third 8.9 metres back after trailing the winner. The mile rate 2-01.7.

9th Feb: New member Fred Crews enjoyed a profitable night when two horses he holds a share in - Mach Three - Aleppo Heiress colt Fourbigmen scored in the 2240 metre Garrards Horse & Hound 3Y0 Pace at Tabcorp Park Melton and Kiwi bred 4Y0 Somebeachsomewhere-Bettortanyou gelding Sicario captured the $60,000 (Group 2) South Australian Pacing Cup over 2645 metres at Adelaide’s Globe Derby Park. Fourbigmen trained by Emma Stewart with Chris Alford in the sulky, led throughout, accounting for the David Aiken trained stablemates Malcolms Rhythm and Max Delight in 1-59.3, while Sicario driven by Gavin Lang for Brent Lilley used the sprint lane off the back of the leader Emain Macha to register a 2.3 metre margin over Dikerry (three wide last lap), with Emain Macha holding down third 5.2 metres back. The mile rate 1-58.9.

10th Feb: Smokey Quartz added another victory to his tally for John Dorrington when winning the $14,280 Kent’s H Hardware Banjo Paterson Cup for C6 or better class on the grass at Orangen in NSW. Settling a mile off the leaders from gate three on the second line as Modern Maestro led, Smokey Quartz eased into the three wide train with around 800 metres to travel following both My Lucky Belle and Parramatta. Despite making the home turn very wide, Smokey coasted to the wire, accounting for Parramatta by 2.8 metres in a mile rate of 1-55.2. Modern Maestro held down third 3.3 metres back. It was Smokey Quartz’s 24th success in 107 outings, taking his stake earnings to just short of $212,000.

15th Feb: Kevin Riseley’s home bred Muscle Hill - Right Interest filly She Is The One racing under the banner of Sheron Park Pty. Ltd. was successful in the SBG Accountants 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 1720 metres at Tabcorp Park Melton. With Greg Sugars in the sulky for Arcadia trainer Patrick Ryan, She Is The One ran home strongly from three back the markers to blouse the S-A visitor Kitsilarno which led by 1.8 metres in a rate of 1-59.3. Classy Spirit (one/one) was third 1.5 metres back.

15th Feb: Peter Judd’s 5YO Rocknroll Heaven - Hectic mare She Envy is going great guns and greeted the judge in the 2240 metre M0 & M1 class Empire Stallions Vicbred Pace at Tabcorp Park. Driven by Kima Frenning for David Aiken, She Envy enjoyed a sweet trip from gate four trailing the pacemaker Rockabella Starz (gate 5), before using the sprint lane to race clear and score by 5.1 metres over Village Safari (five wide home turn) from near last, with Just Wantano (one/one) 1.7 metres away in third place. The mile rate 1-56.

20th Feb: Peter Svanosio’s Sportswriter - Blissful Mood gelding Coppice trained at Ouyen by Mal Retallick was victorious in the Park Douglas Printing 3Y0 Pace over 1790 metres at Mildura. Driven by Horsham’s Aaron Dunn, Coppice at bolters odds of $46.00, ran home off a one/one trip to gain the day by 1.8 metres over the pacemaker Caulonia Arty, with the long odds-on favourite My Carmen ($1.20) a head away in third place after racing in the open. The mile rate 2-00.5.

22nd Feb: Fred Crews and partners John Wilkinson, Gary Dowling, Rob Owen, Bruce Morrison and Denise Morrison were a big group of delighted owners when their smart ex-New Zealand 4YO gelding Stress Factor snared the Yabby Dam Farms Ararat Trotters Cup for T5 or better class over 2570 metres. A winner of the Victoria Trotters Derby last season, Stress Factor trained at Bolinda by Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford came into the race on bad terms as he was only assessed as T3 class, meaning that he was giving away two races against much higher assessed opposition, however class prevailed when the son of Majestic Son and Fear Factor jumped straight to the front at barrier rise and was never headed. Despite being kept honest mid-race by a hard pulling All Lit Up outside him, Stress Factor kicked clear on turning to score by 6.4 metres in a rate of 2-07.1, with Fratellino running a terrific race for third 3.6 metres away after an irregular gallop at the start .

28th Feb: Peter Judd finished the month on a high note, when She Envy chalked up her 12th victory in 40 outings by taking the C4 & C5 class Neatline Homes Pace over 1690 metres at Shepparton. Again with Kima Frenning in the sulky, She Envy came from near last in a hectic affair to be four wide on the final bend to finish full of running, scoring by 1.3 metres from Elianna Franco which followed her throughout, easing five wide on straightening, with Stratospheric 1.7 metres away in third place after racing exposed in the last lap. The mile rate 1-55.8.